Keeping the Tongue from Evil
Psalm 34:12
What man is he that desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?


1. There are different ways of sinning with the tongue. Our words may be —

(1) Exaggerated. It is easy to make light of the common expressions, "terrible, awful," and the like; but they are on the road to sin, and betray a tendency to make more of things than they deserve, which is at bottom self-conceit.

(2) Insincere. Saying pleasant things without meaning them — the wrong and sinful side of politeness.

(3) Malicious. Speaking falsely about a person so as to hurt him.

(4) Profane. The use of vulgar and blasphemous words which young people adopt as a sign of manly independence. And that often goes further, and becomes filthy and immoral.

2. The tongue may be kept:(1) By keeping the heart right.

(2) By persistent effort to break a bad habit.

(3) By the choice of good friends.

(4) By prayer.

(G. M. Mackie, M. A.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?

WEB: Who is someone who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?




Keeping Guard Over One's Words
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